tube pre's

thereaping · 14th November 2007, 12:53 AM

greetings,

i'm looking to invest in a tube pre that i could use primarily for vocals and on a guitar cab, the problem is that i'm on a short, short budget, i cant afford to be spending anymore than roughly $200 give or take. any suggestions?

-chris

moracspace · 14th November 2007, 01:21 AM

There is no tube pre at 200.00 worth mentioning.Honestly
Save a little more and look into a brick.

walth · 14th November 2007, 01:27 AM

check out summit tube pre. i think it's a hybrid tube/solid state pre. $500 though.

check this out.

PreSonus

bellari is cool. for the money.

mdme_sadie · 14th November 2007, 01:43 AM

Presonus TUBEPre is fine, though a little noisy, it imparts a nice enough tone that's pretty musical, and you can drive it into a fairly decent crunch. It's a mix of solid state and tube though. I have one here and personally find it great, it's not hi-fi, but I like the results and feeling of presence and warmth I get from it when using a pretty flat mic through it.

Janesaid2me · 14th November 2007, 02:04 AM

Used ART mpa off ebay run about 200....and once you can save some more buy new tubes and replace the Chinese ones and youll have yourself two decent channels of tube preamp. Best you can do in that price range. Or save for the brick...idk your call. I like the ART though.

beechstudio · 14th November 2007, 02:05 AM

Check out the Tl Audio PA2. Roughly going for around $350 for a pair on Ebay. Bought mine new in 95 for around $650. These are great for doing the DI/reamp guitar thingy as well as good mic pres . A friend of mine who also ones a local studio had the ART Pro MPA. We did a shoot out and both agreed, the TL sounded much better on vocals and gtr's on that particular session.

A LaMere · 14th November 2007, 02:25 AM

I don't mean to question too much.. but why does it have to be a "tube" pre?

Can it be something else? Sounds to from checking your band myspace page that you want something that's fast like an api512 or maybe an rnp? Granted, those are both more than $200 bones...

What about a focurite something or other?

If that were my band, I'd be looking for something fast and accurate anyways...

Best of luck with the search!!

thereaping · 14th November 2007, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A LaMere

If that were my band, I'd be looking for something fast and accurate anyways...

Best of luck with the search!!

i am open to all suggestions, to be honest i dont know much about pre-amps and just assumed going tube would be the way to go. any suggestions for something a little quicker?

Unclenny · 15th November 2007, 01:05 AM

Studio Projects VTB-1 might work. It's not really tube...but for guit cabs the tube drive can be fun.

Haven't used it for vox but some do.

giraffe · 15th November 2007, 01:53 AM

as a general rule, when poor buy solid state.
cheap tube pre's just about universally suck.
muddy low end, junk sizzel hi end, zero frikin headroom etc.....

yrlk · 15th November 2007, 04:43 AM

Why have you so adamantly decided on a tube preamp?

For the money, I'll second that the Presonus TubePre's are actually pretty good sounding. However, there's something weird with the wave-age. Both the ones that I had recorded higher "waves" up than "waves" down (when looking at the waveform itself, of course). It was weird... very weird.

Excuse my lack of technical dialect.

And if you're going to spend 200 bucks on one pre that sounds good on a lot; honestly, I might just as well recommend a JoeMeek 3Q. It's got a BurrBrown that has a bit of a break up to it, and it's a decent little unit for probably under 200 bucks.

I actually prefer the VC6Q, but in my honest opinion, it has a much more "specific-not-good-for-everything" sound than the newer, non-VC line.

Best of luck to you... and remember: YOU make good music, not your toys, my man.

octatonic · 15th November 2007, 04:53 AM

Can we get a smilie of someone repeatedly banging their head on a table?

GravityRobert · 15th November 2007, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by octatonic

Can we get a smilie of someone repeatedly banging their head on a table?

Close enough? Sufficient? http://www.messbase.nl/inc/systeem/c...ed/Fun/092.gif

A LaMere · 15th November 2007, 07:45 PM

Hmm... some quicker pre ideas might be a cheap, used Allen and Heath board of some kind... if you can find one for $200? I've seen some smaller ones for pretty cheap and the pre's in them are useable. I've seen 16 channel A&H stuff go for $500 used at times..

I'm not sure how much the Focusrite silver stuff costs... but I'm betting you might be able to get a single channel Focusrite something or other for around $200, and those are certainly useable in my opinion.

You are going to broaden your options if you look for both solid-state and tube pre's in the $200 range at least...

My personal opinion would be, if you are looking for the best, cheap pre... tube or solid-state, usually the best choice is going to be a solid state pre of some kind.

Ironklad Audio · 15th November 2007, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Used ART mpa off ebay run about 200

bingo...i scored one for $220 a few months ago. the pres are pretty decent, and the DI is even better

frankie c · 15th November 2007, 11:04 PM

put telefunken tubes in it.....

100% times better...

craigmorris74 · 15th November 2007, 11:52 PM

Put Telefunken tubes in an ART while you could get a Brick for the same price or less?

frankie c · 16th November 2007, 01:16 AM

U are probably right...

I got my ART 4 250 new...BUT it has variable inpedance , and HI plate Voltage..

I got it on a Whim on ebay.....took the top off, it has a HUGE Transformer...but they put freakin FIVE DOLLAR CHINESE 12AX7 Tubes in it!!!

HELLO!!! its a TUBE preamp!!!..

e

I got 2 Telefunken ECC83/12ax7's on ebay 4 like 40.00 each...

and it honestly does sound real nice!!

BUT if u can get a BRICK for 400.00 GO FOR IT...

THEN put some tubes in it!!!

just dont hit the tubes too hard , and make sure its in HI PLATE mode..(no starved plate)...

Just my 2 pence..

frankie c · 16th November 2007, 01:21 AM

Use this as your Starting preamp...

The NEXT level is $1,000.00....Brent Averill 1272(neve clone ), great river.. etc..

or a AVALON 737 (1500 used)

Hope this helps!!!

Janesaid2me · 16th November 2007, 04:17 AM

Well the brick only gets him one channel....i think the art mpa gold with upgraded tubes to telefunkens would get him two channels that would sound just as good if not better....just imho

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14th November 2007, 12:53 AM	#1
thereaping Gear interested Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 18	tube pre's greetings, i'm looking to invest in a tube pre that i could use primarily for vocals and on a guitar cab, the problem is that i'm on a short, short budget, i cant afford to be spending anymore than roughly $200 give or take. any suggestions? -chris

14th November 2007, 01:21 AM	#2
moracspace Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: On the 2 buss Posts: 1,351	There is no tube pre at 200.00 worth mentioning.Honestly Save a little more and look into a brick. __________________ SHAKE AND BAKE That bassist couldnt be in the pocket if he was lint. (Jan 2007) Ray Gagliardino In daBag http://www.myspace.com/3sixteenband http://www.myspace.com/pick13music http://www.myspace.com/lesin http://www.myspace.com/themightyparadocs http://www.myspace.com/contagionde http://www.myspace.com/withoutlogicband

14th November 2007, 01:27 AM	#3
walth Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 855	check out summit tube pre. i think it's a hybrid tube/solid state pre. $500 though. check this out. PreSonus bellari is cool. for the money. __________________ walter

14th November 2007, 02:04 AM	#5
Janesaid2me Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 368	Used ART mpa off ebay run about 200....and once you can save some more buy new tubes and replace the Chinese ones and youll have yourself two decent channels of tube preamp. Best you can do in that price range. Or save for the brick...idk your call. I like the ART though. __________________ www.myspace.com/meteorstudios (studio) www.myspace.com/insecrecy (band) www.myspace.com/gerrycorsi (myself) Gerry

14th November 2007, 01:43 AM	#4
mdme_sadie Gear addict Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 399	Presonus TUBEPre is fine, though a little noisy, it imparts a nice enough tone that's pretty musical, and you can drive it into a fairly decent crunch. It's a mix of solid state and tube though. I have one here and personally find it great, it's not hi-fi, but I like the results and feeling of presence and warmth I get from it when using a pretty flat mic through it.

14th November 2007, 02:05 AM	#6
beechstudio Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: North Carolina Posts: 861	Check out the Tl Audio PA2. Roughly going for around $350 for a pair on Ebay. Bought mine new in 95 for around $650. These are great for doing the DI/reamp guitar thingy as well as good mic pres . A friend of mine who also ones a local studio had the ART Pro MPA. We did a shoot out and both agreed, the TL sounded much better on vocals and gtr's on that particular session. __________________ Rick Chaffin http://www.beechstudio.com

14th November 2007, 02:25 AM	#7
A LaMere Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 705	I don't mean to question too much.. but why does it have to be a "tube" pre? Can it be something else? Sounds to from checking your band myspace page that you want something that's fast like an api512 or maybe an rnp? Granted, those are both more than $200 bones... What about a focurite something or other? If that were my band, I'd be looking for something fast and accurate anyways... Best of luck with the search!! __________________ www.myspace.com/aaronlamere

15th November 2007, 01:05 AM	#9
Unclenny Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,495	Studio Projects VTB-1 might work. It's not really tube...but for guit cabs the tube drive can be fun. Haven't used it for vox but some do. __________________ "The main thing is to have a gutsy approach....but use your head." Julia Child "If someone's singing about it, it must be cheatin'." blue2blue Orient.....Organize.....Decide......Act Lenny and The Scapers

15th November 2007, 01:53 AM	#10
giraffe Gear nut Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 106	as a general rule, when poor buy solid state. cheap tube pre's just about universally suck. muddy low end, junk sizzel hi end, zero frikin headroom etc.....

15th November 2007, 04:43 AM	#11
yrlk Gear addict Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 335	Why have you so adamantly decided on a tube preamp? For the money, I'll second that the Presonus TubePre's are actually pretty good sounding. However, there's something weird with the wave-age. Both the ones that I had recorded higher "waves" up than "waves" down (when looking at the waveform itself, of course). It was weird... very weird. Excuse my lack of technical dialect. And if you're going to spend 200 bucks on one pre that sounds good on a lot; honestly, I might just as well recommend a JoeMeek 3Q. It's got a BurrBrown that has a bit of a break up to it, and it's a decent little unit for probably under 200 bucks. I actually prefer the VC6Q, but in my honest opinion, it has a much more "specific-not-good-for-everything" sound than the newer, non-VC line. Best of luck to you... and remember: YOU make good music, not your toys, my man.

15th November 2007, 04:53 AM	#12
octatonic Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: London Posts: 4,771	Can we get a smilie of someone repeatedly banging their head on a table? __________________ Regards, Jim Richmond "I don't go to mythical places with strange men." Douglas Adams

15th November 2007, 07:45 PM	#14
A LaMere Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 705	Hmm... some quicker pre ideas might be a cheap, used Allen and Heath board of some kind... if you can find one for $200? I've seen some smaller ones for pretty cheap and the pre's in them are useable. I've seen 16 channel A&H stuff go for $500 used at times.. I'm not sure how much the Focusrite silver stuff costs... but I'm betting you might be able to get a single channel Focusrite something or other for around $200, and those are certainly useable in my opinion. You are going to broaden your options if you look for both solid-state and tube pre's in the $200 range at least... My personal opinion would be, if you are looking for the best, cheap pre... tube or solid-state, usually the best choice is going to be a solid state pre of some kind. __________________ www.myspace.com/aaronlamere

15th November 2007, 11:04 PM	#16
frankie c Gear addict Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 300	art... put telefunken tubes in it..... 100% times better...

15th November 2007, 11:52 PM	#17
craigmorris74 Gear maniac Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 202	Put Telefunken tubes in an ART while you could get a Brick for the same price or less?

16th November 2007, 01:16 AM	#18
frankie c Gear addict Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 300	brick... U are probably right... I got my ART 4 250 new...BUT it has variable inpedance , and HI plate Voltage.. I got it on a Whim on ebay.....took the top off, it has a HUGE Transformer...but they put freakin FIVE DOLLAR CHINESE 12AX7 Tubes in it!!! HELLO!!! its a TUBE preamp!!!..e I got 2 Telefunken ECC83/12ax7's on ebay 4 like 40.00 each... and it honestly does sound real nice!! BUT if u can get a BRICK for 400.00 GO FOR IT... THEN put some tubes in it!!! just dont hit the tubes too hard , and make sure its in HI PLATE mode..(no starved plate)... Just my 2 pence..

16th November 2007, 01:21 AM	#19
frankie c Gear addict Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 300	ps.. Use this as your Starting preamp... The NEXT level is $1,000.00....Brent Averill 1272(neve clone ), great river.. etc.. or a AVALON 737 (1500 used) Hope this helps!!!

16th November 2007, 04:17 AM	#20
Janesaid2me Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 368	Well the brick only gets him one channel....i think the art mpa gold with upgraded tubes to telefunkens would get him two channels that would sound just as good if not better....just imho __________________ www.myspace.com/meteorstudios (studio) www.myspace.com/insecrecy (band) www.myspace.com/gerrycorsi (myself) Gerry

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